Akasavalli ആകാശവല്ലി
Genus: Cassytha
Botanical name: Cassytha filiformis
PLANT NAME IN DIFFERENT LANGUAGES
Sanskrit: Akasavalli, Amaravalli, Khavalli, Asparsa
Hindi: Amarabel, Akas bel
English: Love Vine, air creeper, devil’s gut, dodder-laurel, green thread creeper, moss creeper, princess hair, Sita’s yarn
Malayalam: Akasavalli, Moodillathali, Akasagarudakodi
MEDICINAL PROPERTIES
Akasavalli are twining, pale green to yellow-green to orange, thread-like, smooth or velvety. Alternately arranged leaves are about 1 mm. Flowers are borne in spikes, rarely singly, and look like small white balloons. Actual flowers are very tiny, less than 2 mm – the ovary is first exposed and later becomes enveloped by the enlargement and overgrowth of the sepal tube. Fruit is ovoid to spherical, size of a large pea, smooth, green or orange-red on maturing, rarely white, commonly drying black. Love Vine is found throughout the tropical world.
The whole plant of Akasavalli is used for skin diseases, headache, intestinal worms, fever and malignancy. Juice of plant mixed with sugar, considered as specific in inflamed eyes.